Why do some varieties smell like garlic?

Lorena Cupcake, voted “Chicago’s Best Budtender” in 2019, has answered hundreds of questions from cannabis buyers and patients during her time as a budtender. And now they’re turning that experience into a monthly advice column, Ask a Budtender. Have a question for cupcake? Send your questions to askabudtender@weedmaps.com.

Hello cupcake,

I’ve always preferred hearty flowers like garlic biscuits to sweet, citrus, and dessert-like varieties. What causes these funky flavors? What other strains should I look for?

Signed,

Head of garlic

Dear garlic,

While it may seem daunting to some, I share your love for garlic. When a grower comes across a strain that combines the right notes of skunk, gasoline, and parmesan cheese, it will be eagerly embraced by those looking for wilder thrills than the berry-scented buds they are accustomed to. One of my favorite live resins is a special jar of sauce that smells like roasted chicken when the lid is opened.

In a way, these hearty strains pose a mystery to the curious cannabis mind. There are terpenes that easily explain why buds smell like pine, lemon peel, or lavender. While varieties of garlic are usually high in myrcene – an earthy, tangy terpene that could explain some of its strong, violent effects – that’s not uncommon, as myrcene dominates in many varieties with a completely different taste. After figuring out exactly where the hot, smelly funk we love came from, I gained a deeper appreciation for these unusual strains, and I think you will too, Garlic Head.

The origins of the garlic varieties

The story begins in early 2013 when the Spanish breeder Mamiko Seeds crossed a new strain. “Chemdawg D and Forum Cookies were the two cuts affected. The cookies clone wasn’t even known as a forum [Cookies] still, but just like Girl Scout Cookies, ”a representative from Mamiko Seeds told me. “The original name was D-Cookies, but we renamed it Chem Cookies shortly afterwards to reflect that among the various Cookies crosses in our collection, including members of the Chem family, this one represents the best properties that the Generally with the chemical character. “

Later that year, a handful of these seeds, dubbed “Chem D”, made it to Matt, the breeder behind Skunkhouse Genetics (perhaps better known online as Skunkmasterflex). I interviewed him with Brett, or Respect, who runs the business of Skunkhouse’s huge seed line. It was in their hands that Chem Cookies, or rather a certain phenotype of Chem Cookies, was given the name GMO.

“The name came organically, ironic as it is for GMO,” laughed Matt. Of all the seeds they sprout, only the first female plant flowered; in Brett’s memory: “It just got out of hand, it piled up, it stank, it looked fantastic.”

“It grew like it had been modified,” Matt said, “and at the time the Girl Scouts of America got a lot of flak because they had a lot of chemicals and GMOs in their cookies.” Calling the plant “GMO” appeared to be a natural evolution of Chem Cookies, although the unusual nickname over the years has led more than one cannabis user to wonder whether the strain was really the result of conventional crossing.

These concerns lead to even more creativity in naming, such as the backronym Garlic Mushrooms Onion. Brett told me that it was a pharmacy in Ann Arbor that originally renamed their GMO flower “Garlic Cookies” to appeal to a crunchy clientele opposed to genetic changes.

Why does cannabis taste like garlic?

While earthy myrcene and peppery caryophyllene explain some of the hearty varieties at dinner in the oven, there is an additional pungent funk that sometimes reminds me of body odor or garlic breath. I talked to “Queen of Terpenes” with Dr. Susan Trapp spoke to shed some light on the smelly subject of 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol. It is also known as 3-MBT and belongs to a group of organic sulfur compounds known as thiols.

“You can actually find it [3-MBT] in the cannabis plant, “said Dr. Trapp. “I think that’s what gives it a really garlic and skunk smell, that sulfur group. It’s that cheesy, metallic, musty Limburger cheese taste. “

While the cabbage compound in cannabis has been positively identified, 3-MBT beer nerds are far better known as the source of the skunky taste of the lightly battered brew. Beer is often packaged in dark bottles to prevent photo-oxidation, a complex process in which UV rays cause a chemical reaction with compounds from hops.

Since Skunk beers high in thiols are considered inedible, the thiol content in cannabis might sound like a mistake; it is not. These super efficient antioxidants add to the taste of wine, beer, and cannabis. Sulfur is an essential mineral for plants and helps build amino acids. Thiols even give varieties like Skunk the musky scent of the same name.

Whether on the menu of a restaurant or a pharmacy, garlic is a star; an olfactory attention grabber that satisfies our human hunger for the “fifth taste” of umami. While Garlic Margy or Garlic Breath may not be the most discreet smoking strains, as long as the scent of marinara and meatballs doesn’t disturb you, they could be among the best.

Strong varieties for the garlic lover

Today, most savory strains are distant descendants of the Chem Cookies genetics. In the eight years since its first GMO plant was named, Skunkhouse has continually developed new varieties for the garlic lover. “We just made a big papa that is really garlic papaya funk,” said Brett. “We have a modified line of Banana Punch coming out.” If you don’t want to start with seeds, try tracking down some of Skunkhouse’s most famous creations at your local pharmacy.

Han Solo Burger (GMO x Larry OG F8)

After nine years of tinkering with Larry OG’s genetics, Skunkhouse Genetics took a standout Larry OG F8 male and crossed him with a potent, pungent GMO. This hybrid is known for an earthy umami scent that resembles a large meaty burger.

GMOBX or Donny Burger (Han Solo Burger x GMO)

The last two letters in GMOBX stand for “backcrossing,” a cannabis breeding technique in which an extraordinary male plant is bred with one of its original parents, which helps stabilize and bind traits that both plants share. Tokers love this strain for its super-cheesy taste, while growers appreciate the faster flowering time.

Double burger (GMO x Donny Burger)

Cross GMO with GMOBX and you get the next generation in the GMO line: Double Burger, a heavy indica hybrid with a full nose of black pepper, garlic and caramelized onions.

I could go on like this forever (yes there is a triple burger) but I think you got the general idea: “burger” is an important keyword to look for when browsing your local pharmacy menu.

My other recommendations are Garlic Road (GMI x I-95), Platinum Garlic Cookies (Garlic Cookies x Platinum), and Turpee Slurpee (GMO x Orange Zkittlez).

You can also add strains as favorites in your Weedmaps profile to receive a notification when they appear in a pharmacy near you.

Do you need advice on how to incorporate cannabis into your lifestyle? Write cupcake to askabudtender@weedmaps.com

Featured image by Gina Coleman / Weedmaps